Vote-registering machine.



No." 882,160. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

D. L. NEWGOMB. -VOTE REGISTERING MACHINE.

l5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 17. 1903.

. EBQQBHMEBE Inventor fiaz/z'zil. Jza'comb N0. 882,160. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

D. L. NEWCOMB. VOTB REGISTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 111903.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1227295505: I fzyeiz of' PATBNTED MAR. 17 11908. D. L. NEWOOMB.

VOTE REGISTERINGv MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUHE'IT. 1903. I

15 SHEETSBHEET 3.

Inventor Nb. 882,160. 4 PATENTBD MAR. 17, 1908. n. L. NBWGOMB.

VOTE REGISTERING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-17,1903.

No. 882,160. PATENTBD MAR. 17, 1908. D. L; NEWGOMB.

' VOTE REGISTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17.1908.

' I v 15 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I. llllJllwllcl I Ill 11 I IIIIII L lllll PATENTED MAR. 17, 196;

JN.8821"0. 1). L. NEWOOMB.

VOTE REGISTERING MACHINE.

1s SHEETS-$113151: 6.

APPLICATION PILE'D JUNE 17.1903.

No. 882,160. I PATENTED MAR. 17, mus. n. L. NEWGOMB.

VOTE REGISTERING MACHINE. APPLI TION FILED JUNE 17.1903.

v 15SHEETSSHEET8. 292K zaj 7 No. 882,160. I PATENTED MAR. 17, "1908.

D. L. NEWGOMB. VOTE REGISTERING MACHINE.

. 15 SHEETS-SHEET ll.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE17.1903.

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No. 882,160. PVATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. 1). L. NBWOOMB.

VOTE REGISTERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1903.

l5 SHEBTS-SHEET 14.

fizz/6221b)" fiawl'dl. flzdcamb.

ber 107,359 filed May 14, 1902. in the present invention is shown and deof mine.

- votes for a large number of candidates.

means for positively tripping the tappets of the ballot.

being there first prepared by the voter and I afterward placed in the machine which is ble and yet secure provision for positively ac- UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID L. NEWCOMB, or sAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

' VOTE-REGISTERING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed. June17, 1903. Serial No. 161,773.

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID L. NEWCOMB, a citizen ofthe'z, United States, residing" at San Diego, in the-county of San Diego and State of California, have invented a new and useful V ote-Registering Machine, of whichv the following is a specification.

This'invention relates to a class 'of voting machines invented by me, the distinctive feature of which embraces a detached separate and independent mechanical ballot which is adapted to be arranged in a booth,

then operated whereby said ballot positively 'actuates registers toregister and count the vote as'prepared on the'ballot;

This invention contains many improvements .over' the inventions illustrated in former applications of mine filed in the United States Patent Ofiice, July 81, 1899, Serial Number 725,723, renewed April '14, 1902, Serial N umber 102,916 and Serial Num- One form of ballot which is adapted for use scribed in the last named former application One object of my invention is to produce a voting machine of as small a size as poss1-' tuating registers for counting'and registering Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for operating the ballot after it is in-the machine. a

A further object is to provide improved Another object is to provide means for holding-the counters, which register the vote, in a series of banks, and to provide means for detachably holding each bank of counters in l the machine. I

Another object is to provide means for locking the ballot carrier while the tappet tripper is being operated.

Another object is'togive more room for names of candidates and to provide means for moving the tappet tripper sidewise to trip the tappets and restore them to normal position.

Another object is to provide improved means for automatically restoring the tap pet tripper tonormal position. 1 Another object is to provide an improved ballot lifter or ejector.

Another object is to provide new and improved means for locking the ballot until the .tappets are set to normal position, and to provide improved locking, means for locking the ballot to prevent repeating. and to require the use of the ejector before the carrier is again advanced, after each vote.

Another object is to provide means for locking the carrier while a ballot isjbeing removed and until a new ballot isin position.

Another object is to provide means for positivelylocking the tappet tripper exce t at such time as the tappet. trippermust be actuated.

Another object is to provide means for printing, perforating, stamping, or otherwise by this invention it' is made possible fora plurality of voters using a plurality of mechanical ballots in a plurality of booths to separately, secretly and at the same time prepare their respective ballots for .yoting for unnominated persons for any or all offices,and to enable such' votes to afterwards be accurately registered-in the ballot box or registering apparatus, at the same time preventing any unauthorized vote from being re istered. Y

he accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure I is a perspective of the machine with the front door open and the side casing removed. 'Fig'll is a view similar to Fig. with the-parts in another position, and with seven individual banks of counters removed, three shanks of counters remaining in position. Fig. III is a sectional view taken rier fully retracted. Fig. VII is a view simimachine.

' a ballot such as may be used in the machine.

- Fig; .XIV is a plan view of the ballot shield.

Fig. XV is a side elevation in whichthe balon line XVII-XVIIL' Fig. XVIII is a front and ballot looking in the direction of the arward movement of the ballot carrier until the through the machine on line; 11min Fig. IX showin a portion of one of the counter frames bro en away-and showing thebal1otis an enlarged viewsimilar to Fig. IV showfi ing the carrier retracted partway and the actuating rods of the counters retracted. Fig. VI is a side view of the ma'chinewith the nearest side wall removed and the ballot carlar to Fig. VI showing the ballot carrier ad; vanced. Fig. VIII is a view similar to Fig. VI showin the ballotcarrier retracted to the position i1 ustrated in Fig. V. Fi IX is a sectional view taken-on line IX Fig. III looking toward the bottom of the machine: Fig. X is a sectional view taken on line X X Fig. IV looking toward ,the bottom of the At the lower side of the view the upper side bar .9 is omitted and the case wall or plate 13- is sectioned on a plane with the' axis of shaft 41 and stem 67. Fig. XI is a sectional view on the-irregular line XIXI Fig. V looking toward the bottom of the maclnne. Fig. XII is a plan view of the face of Fig-XIII is a side elevation of the same.

lot is covered with the ballot shield and'the ballot shield is shown in section. Fig.. XVI is a front elevation of the frame which so ports the counter frames. Three banks on y of counters are shown placel Fig. XVII" is a' sectional view taken through Fig. XVI

elevation of the ballot holder and carrier. Fig. XIX is an'end elevation of'the same. Fig. XX is a front elevation of the ta pet tripper. Fig. XXI is a front elevation o the retractor. Fig. XXII is a front elevation of the retractor, tappet tripper and frame which supports the same, one position of the tap et gigper being shown in dotted lines. ig.

II is a top view of thesame. Fig. XXIV is a perspective view of the tappet trip er lock and tap et tripper shifter. Fig. V is a view loo ing at the parts shownfin Fig. XXIV and a portion of the tappet tripper row indicated in Fig. XXIV. Fig. XXVI is a view looking at the rear side of the parts shown in Fig. XXIV. Fig. XXVII is a detail view of the lock which prevents the for.

ballot is seated in the ballot holder. In this view the lower portion of the ballot is shown and a part of the ballot carrier is shown in section. The lug which supports the lock is also shew in section. Fig. XXVIII is a trip the tappets as it prevents the retraction of the carrier until the tappets are tri ped.

In this view, a portion of the ballot is s own with the tappets raised; a portion (if the tap pet tri per is also shown and a part of the allot older isshownin section, Thebox.

which su ports the lock is also shown in section, wh" e the relative positions of the locking bolts are illustratedl Fig. XXX is a view lookingin the direction of the arrow at the parts shown in Fig; Fig. XXXI 1s a perspective view of the tappet'tripper' I restorer. Fig. XXXI isa, perspective view of the detent for temporarily locking the ballot-carrier at the point in its retraction where the tappets must be tripped. Fig. XXXII is a perspective view of the machine .inclo'sed inits case; the lower portion of the case is broken away to show the interior of the box into which'the lower portions of'the re istering'strips are received as they are dthrou hthe registering'mechan1sm.. taken through thefmachine showing merely the ballot holder, retractor and the marker or printing mechanism for non-nominee votes, theballot holder having been in its forward position and the tappets having *gperatedthe marked or printing devices.

ig. XXXIV is aview similar to Fig. XXXII except that the ballot'holder is not shown. Fig. XXXV is a pla'n-view showing oneend of the mechanical ballot with an independent tappet raised and shows a non-nominee ticket in the form: of a card to be held in position to be printed upon; and one marker or 1g. -XXXI I IS a vertical sec'tlon printing device is shown in normal position.-

. XXXVI is a View similar to Fig. XXXV showing the ballot moved up and the-print-' ing device has been actuated by the raised tappet to throw the type against the nonafter the, card has been printed and the tappet tripped. XXXVIII is a detail. of one of the-printing devices, the case being shown in section, Fig. XXXIX is a front elevation of the same looking toward the face of the type. Fig. XL is a view showing a card upon which the voter has written the nominee ticket card on the mechanical halname of an independent candidate. Fig.

XLI-is a view of the card after the vote for'an independent candidate has been registered in I the machine and the authenticating symbol,-

in this particular instance the letter L is,

shown as having been printed on the card by the machine. I j

Referring to Figs. XII, XIII, XIV and XV 1 designates a mechanical ballot 'which is adapted to be used in the vote registering There may be several of these ballots provided for each machine, so that in an election severalvoters may be preparing their ballots and the ballots may be laced in the machine one after the other an registered as fast as the machine can accommodate them. The

ballot is provided with several rows of tap-.. pets 2, eachtappet being pivotally mounted in the ballot toswing in a plane perpendicular to the face thereof. At the top of the ballotthe name of the party may be placed over each row and after each ballot in each row may be placed the name of a candidate.

- In voting, the ballot'is presented to the voter with all of thetappets closedagainst'the face of the ballot and the'voter indicates his choice of candidates by swinging out the tap'pet under each candidate he wishes to elect, so that the tappets which stand for his.

chosen candidates will stand perpendicularly to the face of the ballot, when he has prepared his ballot. When the ballot is prepared the shield is placed over it. This consists of a casing 3, which fits the upper-edge of the ballot and pivoted to the casing 3 is a flap 4, which covers the face of the ballot and hides the tappets. The outer side edges of'the flap 4 are provided with side walls 5. The lower end of the flap is r'ovided with a hinged lid and the lid 6 is normally held against the sloping ends by means of coil s rings 7 which are connected underneath the ap 4.

Referring now to the drawings in general, the main frame of the machine comprises front and rear rectangular frames 8 which. are united by side bars 9 and 10. the front frame Sis a door 11 and hinged to the rear frame 8 and covering-the top of the machine is acover 12. Theback and sides of the machine may plates. 13.

In Figs- I and II the nearest side plate has be inclosed by suitable machine forming the present invention.

6. The lower en s ofthe walls 5 are sloping" Hinged to been removed. The, door 11 and cover 12' are'shown open. For each-candidate who is to be voted 'for I providean individual coun; ter and in the present embodiment I.have

. shown a counter which is fully described and claimed'in another application of mine filed March 3, 1903 Serial Number 145,931. This counter is so constructed that when actuated it unrolls a numbered tape andthe,tape,is pushed step by step out of, the counter. Each time the counter is actuated the tape is advanced a step and'a'ne'w number brought into view.

' counters are automatically retracted.

ballot is then removed from the machine horizontal plates 31.

Referring to Figs. IIIand IV these couns ters are shown'designated in general by 14. 15 designates thenumbered strip which is actuated by the counters; .Each counter is provided with an actuating rod 16, the rear- .end of which carries a button 17.'- In this embodiment I have'shown thecounters 14 arranged in a series of banks, each bank containing sixteen counters. Each bank of counters is so ported in. a counter frame 18 and in the embodiment shown there areten counter frames andsixteenj counters in each frame. The front wallfof a frame is providedwith hoods 19, one opposite each counter, through which the tape from the "adjacent counter issues .and .the counter so, I

Fig. I only a few strips have been shown projecting through the hoods a short distance in order to clearly show the counter frames. The cover 12 is provided with a slot 22 which is closed by ahd 23, the latter being yieldingly held down by means ofa spring. 24.

The slot 22 rovides' an openingfor the insertion of the the ballothas been prepared it is inserted into the machine and by means of the mechallot into the machine' When anism hereinafterdescribed moved forward and thoset'ap ets which stand perpendicularly to the ba ot are forcedagainst their respective buttons 17 and as the ballot is moved forward the counters registering with the raised tappets are actuated and each counter registers one 'vote for each candidate for whom atappetis raised. The ballot is then moved back and theactuating arms 16 of the The and the machine is rea'dyfor. the insertion I of another ballot. p Y

The means for operating the'ba'llot and j ,for cont olling the pro er manipulation of the ballot while it is in t e machine comprises a ballot carrier and a seriesv of automatic looks or checks. therefor... The ballot car rier comprises a carriage consisting of a pair of side frames 30 which are connected by The side frames 30 are provided at top and bottom with pairs of studs 32 which ride in slots 33 inthe bars 9. Mounted on the ballot carrier is a ballot holder, see Figs. XVIII and XXIX,'which 7 comprises a pair of opposite vertical troughs 34 which are mounted on the ends of suitable posts 35 secured to the ballot carrier. The

.38 is an le bar which connects the lower end-of t e troughs 34 and which is provided with 'a slot 39. The ballot carrier is moved toward or away from the counters bymeans of eccentric cams 40 which. bear against the flanged ends of thesi'de frames 30 I and-which are rigidly mounted upon a' shaft 41 the latter being journaled in the side bars IOQ'and provided at one end with a crank 42 whereby it "may be revolved. Rigidly .mounted on the shaft 41 is a retaining ratchet 4,3; which engaged by-a spring pressed awl 44 pivoted to one of the side bars 10.

' his prevents-the shaft 41 from being turned reversely. Each side frame 30 is slotted as at '29 to permit of the reciprocation of the frames across the shaft 41. The ballot carrier 34 may be accurately ad'usted parallel to the plane of the counter moving the posts 35 in or out and then clamping the same by their set nuts. Be

fore the ballot is covered by the Figs. XIV and XV. The'ballot clerk lifts thelid23 and slides the ballot and shield to ether into the machine, the ballot sliding downthe troughs 34. The ballot shield enters the machine until the casing 3 rests on top of the flaring ends36 of the troughs 34. In'Fig. III the shield is shown in dotted lines as being in such position.- When the shield has reached this position however, the ballot continues to drop'unti'l it is seated with its lower end resting upon the angle bar 38. -The ballot clerk then withdraws the shield and turns the crank 42 which advances Iplaced in the machineit is 7 the carrier and the raised tappets onthe ballot are pushed against their respective butthe carrier has started on its return movetons 17 and operate certain of t e counters. After the'counters have been actuated and ment the actuating rods of the counter are retracted by a retractor 45 which-is provided f with a series of perforations 46, one for each actuating arm of the counters. The retractor is provided with stiffening ridges 47 48 designates a series of plates, provided with notches 49, which are connectedtogether by horizontal strips 50. The plate 48 and strips 50 form a locking frame which 7 is adjustably mounted flat against the rea tractor 45 to which the frame is secured by means of screws 51 which 4 52 in the stri s 50 pass through slots 53 1s a stu c'arriedby one of theplates'48 which projects through a slot 54 inthe retractor 45 and afiords a convenienthandle a on the retractor when it is desired toadjust the same. Rs

uttons 17 by :1

allot shield as shown in being mounted on the retractor 45.

I 66 is a knobconnected with the tappet' In construction the retractor is- 'pl'aced i'n position by first shifting the locking frame: so that thenotches 49 of the plates-48 will perforations 46, this being provided for each side'of the machine. The two levers forming a pair are symmetrical and arran ed at opposite sides of 'the cross bar 10 the evers being pivoted as at 56 to the vertical bar of the frameS; Each re-' tractor lever 55 is provided with a horiiontal arm 57 which has a horizontal slot 58. The

slots are cut so that forwardly they converge. 59 are studs mounted on the outside of troughs .34 of the ballot holder, each stud projecting through a slot 58. Each retractor ever is provided with a vertical arm 60 the end of which is turned over'to forma toe 61. Each toe 61 bears against the forward face of the retractor 45 and as the ballot is advanced to register a vote the forwardrnovement of the ballot holder carries the stud 59 forward in the slots 58, and when the studs reach the inclined walls of the slots they roll each retractor lever'and throw the toes 61 toward the front of the machine at the same time that the retractor is moved forward by ressure of the buttons 17 which are pushed ward by the raised tappets; Continued rotation of the crank 42 starts the ballot carrieron its return and as the ballot'holder is retracted the studs 59 riding to the rear of slots 58 tilt the retractor leversand throw the toes 61 rearwardly and the latter push the retractor to the rear, the retmctor ulling back the actuating arms which have een moved forward in registering the vote. This movement of the retractor continues until the studs 59 have reached the horizontal portion of the slots 58 at which time the tilting of the retractor levers ceases and they lie stationary in their normal-position and the retr'actor is moved nofurther back.

After the vote has been registered it is preferred to trip the standing tappets and restore them to normal position very soon after the ballot has started its return and immediately after the free ends of the tappets have sufficiently cleared the perforations 46 and notches 49. 1 62 is a tappettrip'per formed of a rectangular plate which is provided with elongated perforations '63, one perforation for each tappet.- The tappet tripper 62 is slidabl mounted on studs 64 which pass throug slots 65 in the tappet tripper, the studs 64 for- I tripper by .a stem 67 affording means for in .a lug 69 carried by the frame.

. two pins 71 and 72.

ballot holder hasa path of movement which manually operating the tappet tripper. 1 have provided a tappet'tripper' lock 68 *which in the present embodiment is in the form of a U-shaped plate slidably mounted The plate 68 is provided with a slot 70 and also with The lower end of the throws it against the pins 71 during part of its movement. When'the parts of the-machine are in their normal positions as shown for instance in Fig; VI, the lower end of the ballotholderis bearing against the pin 71 and the tappet tripper lock 68 is in its rearward position and the slot 7 O-s'tands to the rear of the tappet tripper and a ortion of the plate 68 stands across the e go of the tappet tripper so that it is impossible to (rperate the tappet tripper at such time.

. hen the ballot is advanced to operate the counters and the retractor 45 is pushed for 73 is a detent pivoted to the main frame of the machine as at 7 4 and is rovided with a notch '75 and a finger'76 whic finger rests by gravity upon the studs -32. As the ballot carrier moves forward the stud 32 frees the finger 76 allowing the detent 73 to drop over is droprl) fp ock '68 and locks the same in its or. a ward os'ition.

cthc slotted plate 37.

look as.

the rear'end of the tappet tripper lock 68.

As the latter is moved forward y the retractor 45 bearingagainst the pin 72 the notch 75 ed over the rear end of the tap et tripper i v The ballot carrier has a con sidera lemovement forward after the detent 73 has dropped into engagement with the tappet tri perlock 68 as Wlll be seen from a glance at 1g. 'VII. As soon as the ballot has been retracted sufficiently to allow the ends ofthe tappets to clear the retractor, the ballot-clerk pulls out the tappet tripper and the standing tappets are thereby dropped. Means are provided for automatically restoring the tappet trippler. u on the first back ward movement of t e'b lot carrier after the tappet tri per has tripped the tappejzswhich consists a slide 76 provided with a beveled face 77 and a down-turned wing 78 which carries a stud 7 9 which latter projects into The slide 7 6 is mounted just below the up er late of the tappet tripper lock 68 whi e tie wing 78 bears against the side wall of the tap et tripper The stud 79 projects t rough the slot 80 formed :in the sidewall of the tappet tripper lock 68. '.'As the ballot holder is moved back the slide 76 is retraced and the beveled face 7 7 slidesagainst the edge of the its normal position, the stud 79 being drawn slotted plate 37.

to the rear end of the slot 80 by means of the In order to stop the retraction of the carrier at the point where the tappet tripper should be actuated in order to compel the clerk to trip the tappets before further operatingthe machine, have provided the following mechanism:

81 is a detent pivoted at 82 to a slotted lug 83, the detent being guided between the opposite walls of the lug. y

84 is a leaf spring within the lug 83 and serves to press the detent 81 u Wardly and as theballot holder is advance the bottom of thesame rides over the upper faces of the detent 81 depressing the latter and as soon as the ballot holder has been moved into the position shown in Fig. V, the detent 8.1

springs upward until its toe 85 strikes against t the backward movement of the allot ho der from this point until the-detent 81 has been depressed. The ballot is advanced a slight distance from this position to actuate the- I registers, and the ballot holder comes into.

contact with the detent 81 .as shown in Fig.

-XXlX'. It is now impossible to rotate the crank 42 and operate the machine'any fur-' the tripping plate and projecting from the tripping plate is a pin 87 which lies over and in contact with the inclined face of the offset 86 as shown in Figs,, XXIX and IX. When the ballot clerk pulls the tappet tripper out and trips the tappets, the pm 87 presses against the offset 86. and riding along, the inclined face of the latter d epresses the detent 81 into thgiposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. XXL turned to actuate the machine further and retract the ballot carrier and ballot holder the ballot must be lifted out of the holder before the machine can again be Operated. The mechanism for doing this comprises a detent 9O pivoted at.91 to a slotted lug 92.

The rear end of the detent 90 is provided with a toe'93. 1 j 94 is a leaf spring under the detent which serves to normally raise the detent.

95 is a latchguard formed of a flat piece of sheet metal which is pivoted at 96 tothe lug 92 and. its lower end is provided with a The ,crank 42 may then be 

